FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK WASHINGTON FSH 6109.15 - POSITION CLASSIFICATION HANDBOOK Amendment No. 6109.15-93-4 Effective September 7, 1993 POSTING NOTICE. Amendments are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and calendar year. Post by document name. Remove entire document and replace with this amendment. Retain this transmittal as the first page of this document. The last amendment to this Handbook was Amendment 6109.15-93-3 to 6109.15,40 Contents. This amendment supersedes Amendment No. 6 to ch. 40. Superseded New Document Name (Number of Pages) 40 thru 46--14 9 - 6109.15,40 - 5 Digest: 40 - Adds instructions for accessing the new electronic Standard Position Description - Information Center Service. Also makes minor editorial and formatting changes throughout the chapter on the Standard Position Description System. 43 - Changes "Submitting Office Number (SON)" to "Position Office Number (POI)." 44 - Adds reference to standard position descriptions for criminal investigators. 46 - Removes the former list of standard positions descriptions, and provides the instructions for locating, reading, and mailing individual standard position descriptions from the Standard Position Description - Information Center Service. F. DALE ROBERTSON Chief FSH 6109.15 - POSITION CLASSIFICATION HANDBOOK WO AMENDMENT 6109.15-93-4 EFFECTIVE 9/7/93 CHAPTER 40 - STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTION SYSTEM Within the position classification system, individual position descriptions are prepared for positions which are significantly different from other positions because of their duties and responsibilities. However, many positions within the Forest Service are sufficiently similar that standardized position descriptions adequately meet legal requirements. 40.2 - Objective. The objectives of standardizing position descriptions and making them widely available among Forest Service units are to: 1. Provide examples of adequate position descriptions in correct format; 2. Reduce the time needed to describe and classify individual positions; and 3. Achieve consistency among units in the description and classification of similar positions. 41 - REQUIREMENTS FOR USING STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTIONS. Use of a standard position description is mandatory if an adequate one exists. The policy concerning use of standard position descriptions is included in section 03 of this Handbook and in FSM 6151.03. 42 - CHANGES TO THE STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTION SYSTEM. 42.1 - Adding Standard Position Descriptions to the System. National standard position descriptions may be established when the same description applies to 10 or more positions in at least two Regions, Stations, or the Area. Field units may propose new national standard position descriptions when requested by the Washington Office or when a field unit identifies such a need. 42.2 - Revising Standard Position Descriptions. When new classification standards are issued or when for other reasons standard position descriptions need revision, the Washington Office Director of Personnel Management revises them taking field input into account as needed. Field units should suggest revisions when they find that a standard position description is out of date, inconsistent with standards, incomplete, or does not meet their needs. 43 - REGIONS, STATIONS, AND AREA STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTION SYSTEMS. Line officers at Regions, Stations, or the Area may issue standard unit position descriptions as supplements to this chapter. Unit managers below the Region, Station, and Area level may not issue standard position descriptions, except where the Region, Station, or the Area personnel officer has determined that the proposed standard position applies to only one unit within the Region, Station, or the Area, and does not extend to other units. Personnel Officers at the Regions, Stations, and the Area shall assign a standard position number, consisting of up to a maximum of six digits, to each standard unit position established as follows: 1. Enter this standard position number in the Master Record Number block on Form AD-332, Position Description Cover Sheet. 2. For National standard position descriptions, an "N" is used for the first digit of the position number. To differentiate from National standard positions, use the alpha character "S" for the first digit in all standard position numbers for field units. 3. The Personnel Office Indicator (POI) number assigned by the National Finance Center prevents duplication of standard field unit position descriptions. Each POI is unique; therefore, field units can use any four-digit number for the next four spaces of the standard position number. Use any numbering system or sequence desired as long as it does not result in duplicate numbers within any given POI area. 4. Reserve the sixth space for an alpha character that can designate, as needed, "Supervisory" (with an "S"); "Lead" (with an "L"); a parenthetical "specialization or skill requirement" (with an "F" for fisheries, "T" for typing, and so forth); or Schedule A 213.3102(w) stay-in-school employees paid at a GS rate (with a "W"). Otherwise, leave the sixth space blank. 44 - STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTIONS FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS AND FIREFIGHTERS. Some criminal investigators and firefighter positions which are covered for early retirement have standard position descriptions. The Office of Personnel Management has approved the standard position descriptions covered by early retirement. 45 - PROCEDURES FOR USING STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTIONS. 1. The supervisor determines that a standard position description covers at least 80 percent of the work situation, reproduces the position description, and completes blocks 19, 20, and 21 of Form AD- 332, Position Description Cover Sheet, certifying that the standard position description is current and accurate. 2. Complete Form SF-52, Request for Personnel Action, to document required approvals, such as line approval to establish and fill the position, and budget or ceiling approvals. 3. Upon receipt of the Forms SF-52 and AD-332, the personnel office shall assign a position number on the Form AD-332 in accordance with unit practice. Complete blocks on Form AD-332 as required by the unit and the National Finance Center. Information such as the name of the unit and the supervisor's position, need not be included in the text of the position description since it is included on Form AD-332. 4. The personnel office shall process the personnel action and provide the requesting unit with copies of the completed standard position description. A standard position description is considered established as of the effective date of the personnel action. 5. Standard position descriptions may be used for positions whose pay plan is other than GS. When the pay plan is GW, the standard position description number is suffixed with "W." 46 - STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTION - INFORMATION CENTER SERVICE. THE Servicewide electronic Standard Position Description - Information Center Service (SPD-ICS) contains approved standard position descriptions. Users Servicewide can access this "on-line" ICS to locate and read the national SPDs and to mail individual SPDs to their inboxes or they can use the SPD automailer. Documents in the SPD-ICS are identified by the series and grade and national position description number such as "GS-0193-05 N5099." Documents are approximately 5 to 8 pages. 1. Standard Position Description Automailer. The SPD Automailer is a retrieval tool for mailing a copy of an SPD to a personal inbox. The procedures for using the automailer system are similar to those for requesting vacancy announcements. 2. Access. To access the SPD Information Center, follow these steps: a. Press the INTERRUPT function key. b. Select choice 7. User Applications. Press the NEW LINE key to complete the command. NOTE: Some users will be asked if they are doing this from public or private domain. If asked, answer public domain. c. Key in INFO_CENTER and press the NEW LINE key when the system prompt appears to enter the application. d. Press the NEW LINE key to enter the default choice 1, "Standard Command Line." e. The screen displays a menu as follows: Forest Service Information Centers 1. SRC (Software Reference Center) 2. FSM (Forest Service Manual) 3. FSH (Forest Service Handbook) 4. FAC (Facilities Information Center) 5. LIB (FS INFO) 6. CTR (Contracting Information Services) 7. InBM (Incident Business Management Information) 8. EELI (Environmental Engineering Laws and Issues) 9. Other (Additional Information Centers) f. Select "9". Press the NEW LINE key to complete the command. g. The prompt appears, "Center Name: ." Enter SPD and press the NEW LINE key to complete the command. h. The screen displays, "Calling the Information Center. . ." on the lower left-hand corner. Wait until the screen displays, "Call is Complete" in the upper left-hand corner. At this point, the user has gained access to the Information Center and the drawer named SPD. The list of SPD folders is displayed. In the folder named "!HELP," there is a document "User's Guide" which provides specific instructions regarding the operation of the SPD Information Center. In the folder "!INDEX," there is a document "SPD Index," which provides a listing of the documents in the SPD Information Center.